# Invade a country - get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 10, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355 "2003-05-10T18:35:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/1 "2003-05-10T18:35:04Z")
Bush and Blair are now in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize. No kidding. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030508/pl\_nm/iraq\_nobel\_dc](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030508/pl_nm/iraq_nobel_dc) Is initiating a military conflict so as to prevent a future military conflict a peaceful endeavor worthy of nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize? I will leave any ridicule and just say, no, I think not. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/2 "2003-05-10T18:53:31Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182885](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=182885) ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/3 "2003-05-11T03:32:42Z")
Sorry 'bout that. Thanks **Retvim**. ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/4 "2003-05-11T03:33:56Z")
Ahhh… **Revtim** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/5 "2003-05-11T16:30:48Z")
You can’t see the forest for the trees. I don’t really want to argue politics here at SDMB because this is largely a leftist board but that nomination isn’t because they went to war. If it were due solely to that, then the Leaders in Sudan, Russia or Ethiopia would get nobel prizes too. The guy states why the he wants a nomination and i agree with him. ‘Sometimes it’s necessary to use a small and effective war to prevent a much more dangerous war in the future,’ Jan Simonsen, a right-wing independent in Norway’s parliament, told Reuters. ‘If nobody acted then Saddam Hussein could have produced weapons of mass destruction and, in five or 10 years, could have used them against Israel,’ he said. It was also because they overthrew one of the worst dictators on the planet and are trying to establish a representative government. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/6 "2003-05-11T17:10:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Is initiating a military conflict so as to prevent a future military conflict a peaceful endeavor worthy of nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize? Well, seeing as how [Hitler](http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,900496,00.html) was nominated for the peace prize in 1938, I’d say that pretty much _anything_ can serve to get someone nominated into that elite group. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/7 "2003-05-11T17:22:24Z")
“Remove a major threat to peace, get a peace prize.” What’s the problem? ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/8 "2003-05-12T01:22:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Calculus of Logic \* > \*\*You can’t see the forest for the trees. \*\* The forest is made up of trees, son. If the trees are rotten and dying, then so is the forest. Let’s take another inane expression: The means justify the ends. Well, shit. Ever stopped to notice that the means _create_ the ends. You kill thousands and thousands of people to institute another government, you get thousands and thousands of dead people and a new government. Your whole bet is that the new government will save even more than were killed to implement it. Hope your not betting too much on this one. > [@](#): > > \*\* I don’t really want to argue politics here at SDMB because this is largely a leftist board but that nomination isn’t because they went to war. If it were due solely to that, then the Leaders in Sudan, Russia or Ethiopia would get nobel prizes too. \*\* You’re safe arguing with me then. I’m not a leftist. I hate politics altogether. Or maybe leaders in Sudan, Russia and Ethiopia just get bad press. > [@](#): > > \*\* The guy states why the he wants a nomination and i agree with him. > > ‘Sometimes it’s necessary to use a small and effective war to prevent a much more dangerous war in the future,’ Jan Simonsen, a right-wing independent in Norway’s parliament, told Reuters. > > ‘If nobody acted then Saddam Hussein could have produced weapons of mass destruction and, in five or 10 years, could have used them against Israel,’ he said. \*\* It’s all based on the prevention of some future event as though the scriptures have foretold it, and it is inevitable. Based on that theory, I should go and kill any kids that I know will grow up to be big and strong and may be able to hurt me. If nobody acts they could learn to box in five or 10 years and beat the crap out of my neighbors. > [@](#): > > \*\* It was also because they overthrew one of the worst dictators on the planet and are trying to establish a representative government. \*\* Translation: This dictator was stepping on American toes and had to be removed for economic reasons so that an American puppet could be inserted under the guise of democracy. ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/9 "2003-05-12T01:23:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Squink \* > \*\*Well, seeing as how [Hitler](http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,900496,00.html) was nominated for the peace prize in 1938, I’d say that pretty much _anything_ can serve to get someone nominated into that elite group. 😉 \*\* Shit, eh. One more thing that Bush and Hitler have in common. ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/10 "2003-05-12T01:29:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*“Remove a major threat to peace, get a peace prize.” > > What’s the problem? \*\* What’s the problem? Go ask one of the families in Baghdad who had their neigborhood nailed with a ‘smart’ bomb which was the more major threat: The US invasion, or Saddam. Doublethink central: War = Peace = War = Peace Prize. When a major threat to peace is removed by peaceful means, then a peace prize is in order. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/11 "2003-05-12T02:00:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lander2k2 \* > \*\*Shit, eh. One more thing that Bush and Hitler have in common. \*\* Clinton must feel left out over Kosovo. ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/12 "2003-05-12T02:15:27Z")
**Magiver** : I’m not sure if you’re having a dig based upon the assumption that I’m a democrat, or if you just think that Clinton should be thrown in with those of his ilk. Well, for the record I think Clinton is no better. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/13 "2003-05-12T02:47:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lander2k2 \* > \*\ ***Magiver** : > > I’m not sure if you’re having a dig based upon the assumption that I’m a democrat, or if you just think that Clinton should be thrown in with those of his ilk. > > Well, for the record I think Clinton is no better. \*\* Sorry, shouldn’t have hit the quote button. My apologies. No dig at you. Clinton would love a peace prize (or was that piece prize;) ). It will probably kill him if Dubya gets one and he doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![lander2k2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@lander2k2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lander2k2)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/14 "2003-05-12T03:50:01Z")
If Dubya scores off this nomination, it’ll surely piss Jimmy Carter off as well. He had to wait 20 years after his term in office to get his. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/15 "2003-05-12T07:38:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lander2k2 \* > \*\*conflict so as to prevent a future military conflict a peaceful endeavor worthy of nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize? > > I will leave any ridicule and just say, no, I think not. \*\* If they can nominate a terrorist like Arafat I dont’ see why they couldn’t nominate anyone. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/16 "2003-05-12T10:35:32Z")
I think it’s a sick joke, to be honest. Bush and Blair no more deserve a Nobel Peace Prize than Hitler did, or Arafat. It makes a mockery of what the prize should really stand for. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/17 "2003-05-12T14:33:08Z")
Just to point it out - Arafat wasn’t nominated for the peace prize, he was awarded it. More on it is in the original thread. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/18 "2003-05-12T19:09:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Calculus of Logic \* > I don’t really want to argue politics here at SDMB because this is largely a leftist board Oh, is this the new euphemism for “my sound-bite talking points get shredded to bits by the smarter folks here”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/19 "2003-05-12T19:43:49Z")
Come on guys. The peace prize is often a joke (as others here have already pointed out). But let’s just speculate for a minute. In the last 20 yrs or so, Iraq started 2 wars against its neighbors. If, in the next 20 yrs there are no more Iraq instigated wars, then perhaps something will have been accomplished. Myself, I’d like to wait and see what happens in Israel before I go awarding any prizes. Also, remember that we just had Cuba join the Human Rights Commishion of the UN. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355/20 "2003-05-12T20:17:39Z")
If anyone is interested, I’ll nominate _them_ for the Nobel Peace Prize. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invade-a-country-get-nominated-for-the-nobel-peace-prize/174355.md?page=2)